Method of concentrating sludge acids



A. A VINEYARD July 26 METHOD OP CONCENTRATING SLUDGE ACH.'

Original Filed Sept.. 9. 1925 Patented July 26, 192.7.

UNITED STATES 1,636,724 PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR .AA VINEYARD, OF WOOD RIVER, ILLINOIS.

METHOD OF CONCENTRATING SLUDGE ACIDS.

Original application filed September 9, 1925, Serial No. 55,324. Divided and this application filed November 27, 1925. Serial No. 71,703.

' This invention relates to methods for concentrating', and particularly to a methodfor concentrating, treating and mixing liquids which are to be concentrated, recovered or restored to a stronger or heavier gravity, the method being lparticularly applicable for use in coiqentrating acid which has been used for'oil refining, sludge acid or other weak acid, this present application being a division of application Serial#55,324, filed September 9, 1925, on systems of concentrating sulphuric acid.

The general object of this invention is to provide'an acid concentrating method which includes the submission of akweak acid to the action of heat, the agitating of the heated weak acid in an agitating and vapor-v releasing chamber, the settling of the liquid, the condensation oi `the `vapor and gases which are released in the agita'l' ing chamber, and -the further concentration of the vliquid acid in the settling tanks.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, whereinz- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view in scction of the several elements of a concentrating system operating in accordance with my method;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the pipes 33 and conc-entrator or still.

Referring to this ligure, Av designates a heater whereby the weak acid is first subiiiitted to the heat, B an agitating 'and vapor-releasing chamber, C a plurality of settling tanks into which the liquid from the chamber vB passes, D the condenser into which the vapor from the chamber l5 passes and by which the vapor -is condensed, lil the strong acidconcentiator, and F the heat-er for heating the acid passing fromthe set` tling tanks into the strong acid concentrator.

Generally speaking, the heater A com` prisesa fire brick heating chamber 1() having a fire box 11 at itsvlower end and having a flue outlet 12. Extending through this chamber are a plurality of pipes 13. These are lined with acid-resisting metal and have the returned bends 14 so that the acid will flow continuously from the discharge inlet 15 to the discharge outlet 16. The chamber 10 may be heated by means of oil or other suitable heating means beneath the series of pipes. The flanges 17, it will be noted, are outside of the furnace wall. This prevents melting of the flanges." Passing -through the furnace below the series of pipes `1'( is a compressed air pipe.l 8 which discharges into-thc agitatiiig chamber B. i

.The outlet 16l leads from the series of pipes 13 into the chamber B which is constructed of' an outside shell of lead 19 lined -with acid-proof brick and cement 20. The air pipe 18, which is made of acid-resisting material, has a number of air jets within the chamber whereby the heated compressed air may be discharged npwardthrough the liquid which partially fills the chamber. The discharge of the air upward through the chamber acts to thoroughly agitate the liquid, breaks up organic matter, and helps to release the gases .fromthe acid. The breaking up of the organic matterteiids to preveit any retardation of flow from the chamber to the settling tank.

intending from the chamber B is a pipe 2l which discharges'into the first settling tank C and from a point adjacent the top ol this settling tank leads a pipe 22 to the next settling tank, and so on. The organic mai-ter is removed by skimming from the lop or after the acid has been drawn off through the bottom. lliefscttling tank may be washed and thc organic matter carried oll'into a sewer by a hose. If there is no organic matter in large quantities in the acid` there is no necessity of carrying the acid frointhe chamber B into thesettling tank but it may be carried directly to the strong acid conccntrator E.

Leading from the top of the agitating chamber -B is a vapor outlet pipe 23 which leads into the condenser D. This may be of any suitable construction but is illustrated as consisting of an outer wooden jacket 24 lined with lead 25, and disposed within this lead J tank is a .shell 2G of' lead. The vapor inlet pipe 23 leads through the wall of the condensing tank and into the shcll26 and discharges the vapor therein. The shell 26 is entirely surrounded by water contained within the tank and fed tlhcreto by the water inlet pipe 27.

Passing vertically through the shell are passages 28, the walls of which are of lead and through which the water passe/s and cir.- culatesso that the vapor within this coni (lensing tank Ais continually submitted to the cooling action of water. From the end 0f this shell opposite the inlet pipe 23 is an exit pipe 29, while from lone end 0f this hell and leading downward 'through the bottom of the water tank is an acid dri T he flanges ofthe return bends of each end Y of the convoluted line of pipe 33 are dis-.

posed entirely exteriorly of the forward and rear walls 35 of this heating chamber. TheV pipe 33, after it passes through the heating chamber, extends through the forward Wall thereof and then extends laterally in the form of a header 36 and from this header 36 extends a pluralityv of disch'ar e pipes 37, these .extending forwardly an downwardly and discharging into the upturned ends of a plurality of relativelylarge pipes 38. These pipes 38 are of cast iron, Duriron or other acid-resisting metal. These are disposed Within the chamber E and there submitted to the action o' heat from an oil burner 39 or other heating means. The forward end of each pipe 38 is provided with a head 40 and from this head extends an outlet pipe 4l leading to a storage tank, and from the upper portion of this head leads an outlet -pipe 42 which extends back to the condenser D and enters the vapor inlet pipe leading to this condenser at 43. Thus any vapor rising from the liquid in the cast iron pipes 38 will be carried back and ife-condensed. The strong acid concentrator is designed to raise the acid to 66, and it is to be noted ,that the heat. from the large still pipe furnace E is used in thefire-box F for the urpose of heating the pipes 33.

T e value of this concentrating systemresides particularly in the fact that the cost of concentration is reduced at least one-half. Furthermore, the s stem eliminates. the very offensive gas whic is destructive to' propeity both in the plants and out-side the plants, which gas is produced where the o en system of concentration is in use. Anot er advantage resides in the small loss from concentratng. Thus gases which usually escape in ordinary systems are.condensed and concentrated in this system. Furthermore,

the cost of upkeep and labor is relatively small and this, of course, acts to reduce the cost of concentration. This method of/ concentrating and the apparatus which is shown in detail in my co-pending ap lication before referred te may be use with succees in concentrating, treating and mixing many ditte-rent li uids. In fact, any liquid to be concentrate recovered or restore(l to a. stronger or heavier gravity might be treated by this process with success. Carheme acid and gas liquor could be treated or outlet 30. Leading from the bottom of t e tank is a water.,

concentratedmore successfully than any other liquid except .sulphuric acid. This method is especially designed to concentrate any acids or liquids that give oli a noxious gas because this system combines and condenses said gas. Should there be a small 4percentage of non-condensable` gas in any liquids concentrated, it could'be taken care of after passing from the exit pipe by being drowned in a spray of water connectedto a,-

sewer.

The step in my method which consistsin conducting the hot liquid'lintoa gas releas-u agitatedvby the injection of hot air is 'avery mp0 tio,

ing chamberwhere vthe liquid is one for, as soon as the hot lquidpenterstli'e releasing. chamber or agitating chamber ,there is a portion of vapor `or gas` immediately released. The liquid is then sub- ]ected to an agitatingv recess' by the compressed heated air whic further aids to release more vapor and gas and to break up organic matter. The het air prevents the absorption of vmoisture by the acid which would lower the s ecic gravity.- The agitation of the liquid), inthe chamber to break up organic matter i of great value in treating sludge acid which is obtained in relining oil. The carbon or organic matter in ttoms While I have illustrated the specific apparatus which I have particularly designed to carry out my method, Iv do not wish to be limited tothis as itis obvious -that other ap# paratus might be used or modifications of this apparatus might be devised with which to cai-ryout the process.

I claim 1. @method of concentrating sludge acid containin organic matter consisting in prehcating t e acid, carryin it into an agitating tank, maintaining t e temperature of the acid therein and agitati the acid to break up organic matter, carrying the liquid to a settling tank to thereby separate the organic matter, from the acid, conducting the acid free from `,Ono mattr t0 a heater andwhilestill liotfconcentrating-the acid.

.2.A method of concentratingv acids containing organic impurities consisting in heating the liquid and conductin it to an agitating'tank, agitating it therein by hot air under pressure, carrying oli' vapor from said agitating tank, carrying the lliquid from the agitating tank to a settling tank and from thence to a second heater and thence into a concentrating still.

3 A method of concentrating sulphuiic acid containing organic matters consisting in heating the acid and conducting it while still 'hot into an imitating tank, agitat-ing it by hot compressetl air. to thereby maintain the heat of the acid and release gases therefrom and break u organic matter, carrying ofl the vapor lrom said agitating tank and conducting the liquid to a settling tank to permit foreign. niatters to be skinmi'ed olf, and carrying the liquid from the settling l0 tank into a second heater and from thence into a concentrating still.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

.RTHU'R a. VINEYARD. 

